Bohemian Rhapsody
Russell Watson [Tenor] Lyrics
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Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
Anyway the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me, to me
Mama, just killed a man
Put a gun against his head
Pulled my trigger, now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I've gone and thrown it all away
Mama, ooo
Didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters
Too late, my time has come
Sends shivers down my spine
Body's aching all the time
Goodbye everybody I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
Mama, ooo (anyway the wind blows)
I don't want to die
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all
I see a little silhouetto of a man
Scaramouch, scaramouch will you do the fandango
Thunderbolt and lightning very very frightening me
Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo Figaro - magnifico
But I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Easy come easy go will you let me go
Bismillah! No we will not let you go - let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go - let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go let me go
Will not let you go let me go (never)
Never let you go let me go
Never let me go ooo
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Oh mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me
For me
For me
So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye
So you think you can love me and leave me to die
Oh baby can't do this to me baby
Just gotta get out just gotta get right outta here
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
Nothing really matters
Anyone can see
Nothing really matters nothing really matters to me
Anyway the wind blows
The opening lyrics of Russell Watson’s version of “Bohemian Rhapsody” is one of the most iconic and memorable parts of the song. The song writer Freddie Mercury wrote the song to tell a story of a young man who accidentally kills someone, and how he comes to terms with it. The opening lines “Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?” suggest that the singer may be questioning if what they are experiencing is real or just a dream. The lines “Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality,” further emphasizes this point, implying that the singer is not in control of the situation he is in.
As the song progresses, we hear the singer admitting what he has done, and the guilt and regret that he feels. The lines “Mama, just killed a man, put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger now he's dead,” shows that the singer is feeling remorse and seeking comfort from the person he is addressing. He pleads with her not to cry and to carry on as if nothing has happened.
Overall, the lyrics of “Bohemian Rhapsody” are deep and layered, telling a story of tragedy and redemption. The song is regarded as one of the greatest songs ever recorded due to its iconic and melodious tune, and the emotional depth of its lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Is this the real life?
Am I really living this life as it is or is it just my imagination?
Is this just fantasy?
Am I living in a world of make-believe?
Caught in a landslide
Feeling trapped and helpless like I'm sinking deeper and deeper.
No escape from reality
No way to avoid the hard truth of life.
Open your eyes
Wake up and see the truth for what it is.
Look up to the skies and see
Take a bigger perspective and see beyond the immediate problems.
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
I'm not looking for pity, just trying to make it on my own.
Because I'm easy come, easy go
I don't cling to things or people, I let them come and go as they please.
A little high, little low
I experience the highs and lows of life like everyone else.
Anyway the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me, to me
I'm okay with whatever happens, I can adapt and still be myself.
Mama, just killed a man
I've done something terrible and I need to face the consequences.
Put a gun against his head
I used violence and force to take a life.
Pulled my trigger, now he's dead
I made a fatal mistake that I cannot undo.
Mama, life had just begun
I had a new beginning in life but it was cut short.
But now I've gone and thrown it all away
I messed up and I can't take back what I did.
Mama, ooo
Help me through this difficult time.
Didn't mean to make you cry
I regret causing pain and sorrow to those I care about.
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
I may not be alive to see another day.
Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters
Just continue living life as best you can, even if it all seems pointless.
Too late, my time has come
It's the end of the line for me, my fate is sealed.
Sends shivers down my spine
I feel dread and fear at what is to come.
Body's aching all the time
I'm physically and mentally exhausted from it all.
Goodbye everybody I've got to go
I have to say goodbye to everyone and everything I know.
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
I can't avoid the inevitable, I have to confront the truth head-on.
I don't want to die
I still want to live but that's not my choice anymore.
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all
Life can be so unbearable that the thought of never having existed seems preferable.
I see a little silhouetto of a man
I have a vague sense of something looming ahead.
Scaramouch, scaramouch will you do the fandango
I'm asking if someone will dance with me before everything ends.
Thunderbolt and lightning very very frightening me
I'm scared of the unknown that lies ahead, it's like a bolt from the blue.
Gallileo, Gallileo, Gallileo, Gallileo, Gallileo Figaro - magnifico
I'm calling out for help from anyone, even the famous and powerful.
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
I'm not special or privileged, just an ordinary person from humble beginnings.
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Don't punish him for my mistake, it's not his fault.
Easy come easy go will you let me go
I recognize that life is fleeting and unpredictable, so can I have a little freedom to choose?
Bismillah! No we will not let you go - let him go
I'm appealing to a higher power to intervene and save me from my fate.
Never let me go ooo
Please don't let me die alone and in fear.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
The answer seems clear but I still cling to hope.
Oh mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go
I'm almost pleading with life to give me one more chance.
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me
I know I'm probably going to hell for what I've done.
So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye
You think I'm weak and helpless, but I'm not going down without a fight.
So you think you can love me and leave me to die
You think you can break my heart and walk away, but I won't let you.
Just gotta get out just gotta get right outta here
I need to escape this nightmare and find a way out.
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
The emotions are mounting and everything seems intense and urgent.
Nothing really matters
Despite everything that's happened, everything that's been said, nothing really matters.
Anyone can see
It's obvious even to an outsider like you.
Nothing really matters nothing really matters to me
I've come to accept that the only thing that ultimately matters is my own experience and existence, everything else is just noise.
Anyway the wind blows
In the end, it all comes down to fate, chance, and the currents of life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FREDDIE MERCURY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind